Andrew MacNevin will be the Holland College Hurricanes first baseball coach.

The college made the announcement on Wednesday.

“Andrew has a superb background in baseball, in particular varsity baseball, and we are confident in his abilities to coach and to attract student-athletes to our team and school,” said Albert Roche, the college’s athletics and recreation director.

“It became immediately obvious that we share the same vision and passion for the development of the baseball program at Holland College and the sport on P.E.I. Undoubtedly, players will be provided a tremendous opportunity and train and improve under his leadership. We look forward to working with Andrew as we introduce varsity baseball in our inaugural year.”

MacNevin grew up playing baseball on P.E.I. and attended Niagara University (NCAA Division I) in Lewiston, N.Y., where he was named captain and currently sits among the top of many records in hits, doubles, home runs, walks and RBIs.

Following his playing days MacNevin spent two years as a hitting and infield coach with the Niagara County Community College in Sanborn, N.Y., where he had the chance to work with several MLB draft picks. Following his days in New York, MacNevin began working in Alberta with the Okotoks Dawgs Baseball Academy for the next four years.

“I am truly honoured and privileged to be named the head baseball coach at Holland College,” MacNevin said. “I’ve already had the opportunity to speak to some of the student-athletes and have received tremendous feedback. I would like to compliment Holland College and their athletic department for putting Holland College into the position to bring collegiate baseball to Prince Edward Island. I believe this program has a bright future and the capacity to be very competitive in the Atlantic Conference”.

Since returning to Prince Edward Island two years ago, MacNevin has spent time with the Eastern Baseball Academy working with the province’s top baseball players as they strive to reach the next levels in their baseball careers.

“Having a collegiate baseball program at Holland College will only open up further opportunity for those aspiring to play at the next level,” MacNevin said. “Local talent will now have the option to live at home while furthering their baseball career and not be forced to move away. Overall this is an important step for baseball on Prince Edward Island and hopefully it will continue to stimulate further player interest from the grassroots level on up”, said MacNevin.

The Hurricanes were accepted into the Canadian Collegiate Baseball Association’s Atlantic Conference on Monday. They join the St. Mary’s University, St. FX, UNB, Dalhousie University, Cape Breton University and the Crandall University in the conference.

The Hurricanes are holding a meeting today at 5:30 p.m. at Holland College’s Centre for Community Engagement, Room 311, for anyone interested in Hurricanes baseball. The meeting is open to the community, including players interested in trying out or public wanting to volunteer with the baseball program or become a booster club member.

The team will play out of Memorial Field in Charlottetown. The CCBA uses wooden bats and play seven-inning games with the regular season beginning in early September and playoffs beginning in October. The national championship is held in Montreal in 2014.